I am writing with reference to Richard Matrenza’s appointment as chairman of the Industrial Tribunal and with reference to the article ‘As Tribunal proceedings halt, three chairs appointed’ (April 4). I would like to clarify and explain that the words “Malta’s former high commissioner to the United Kingdom, in the past worked for the GWU’s Union Print” may have been misrepresented to the ordinary reader.

Matrenza is an industrial relations specialist who has practised freelance for almost half a century. In his capacity as an industrial relations consultant he has assisted both employers and also employees at the Industrial Tribunal since its inception in February 1977, led specialised conferences on labour relations matters and also published the conferences’ proceedings.

During the 1980s and 1990s, on behalf of Cimira (Consultants in Management Industrial Relations Advisors), he also published, together with Misco, in-depth studies on the workings of the Industrial Tribunal.

He also established Cimira as a first management consultancy in Malta in 1968. With regard to Union Print Company Limited, he only gave his professional services in a consultative capacity for a specified number of months, from February 13, 2003 to March 31, 2004.

I can confirm this personally as I was soon after appointed company secretary of this company effective June 3, 2004, and previously had attended board of directors’ meetings prior to being given full handover by the former company secretary.